Measure, Measure

So today's buddy system workout went well, and I think I have a steady set of Tuesday after class workout dates. It helps me to push myself, although it was different to be talking and not be listening to music. I did manage to crank out three sets of pushups for a total of 40. Made my day.

My next item on my wishlist is an itunes card. Here are the songs I would like to download:

Justin Timberlake -- Sexy Back
Justin Timberlake -- Love Stoned
Lady Gaga- Pokerface
Lady Gaga - Just Dance

Hmmm, that is a pretty short list, so I'll have to start thinking of what I'm missing overall. Radio here I come.

Workout Buddy

I haven't had a pal to workout with since 2005. Not that I don't have friends, but I just don't have friends who share my passion for the gym. So I'm very excited to say that my friend R is going to join me tomorrow for a strength workout at the gym. Our conversation went kind of like this:

R: Do you want to go to the gym on Thursday?
Me: Sure! We can do a strength workout!
R: Don't get too excited. I can only run a mile.
Me: I've never run a mile! Yuck!

So tomorrow we will be buffing and beefing up. And who knows, maybe I'll run a mile one day. But probably by force. Yuck.

If You Can Do It At Home, You Can Do It Anywhere

I've been continuing my trend of strength workouts at home. This has been the only way to squeeze in a decent workout without affecting the high number of assignments that my grad program is dumping on me. I've pulled my yoga mat out of hybernation, and it is still the dreamiest color of leaf green that I've ever seen. In lieu of yoga, I've been doing my strength routine:

1. 3 sets of 12 push-ups
2. 2 sets of 15 crunches (arms extended above my head)
3. 2 sets of 15 leg lifts (repeat on both sides)
4. 2 sets of spinal stretches (cat pose if you do yoga)
5. 2 sets of 15 bridge poses
6. 2 sets of 12 lunges (repeat on both sides)
7. 2 30-second wall-sits

I'm doing this every other day before I leave the house, and I love the little bit of pain as I walk throughout the day. If you're not sore, you know it's not working. I've worked out in my home office, in our house in the mountains, and this morning in my boyfriend's living room while I watched "Ellen." It was great.

And P.s., I just figured out that people were leaving me comments, and I loved them. So if anyone is still reading this, your feedback is super motivating. And my derailment this weekend was little chocolate eggs.

Tools Are Useless If You Don't Use Them

What does this mean, you say? Again allow me to reiterate that I have been reading fitness magazines for about 13 years, and have managed to let myself become sedentary and a little on the softer side despite this knowledge. So I'm taking this realization and using it to notice a trend in my life. There are many things for which I have physical tools or knowledge that I am NOT putting into play. Here are a few examples:

• Although I have knowledge of fitness requirements, I am still often sedentary.
• Although I have healthy cookbooks and knowledge of food components, I often choose to eat junk, like scallion pancakes and bubble tea.
• Although I probably own 72 bottles of lotion, I have dry skin.
• Although I own a hairdryer and flat iron, I typically have a ponytail and one tangley dreadlock in the back.
• Although I have a closet full of beautiful size 4-6 clothes, I continue to wear my small sad collection of larger clothes.

Sigh. I know this sounds depressing, but the reality is that it means I've taken the first step. I have the knowledge and the supplies to be a better version of me, but I often get in my own way. So while healthy weight loss is a slow process, I've begun to take some other steps to showing myself more respect. Because putting it in writing has always helped me (Undergraduate poetry major), here are my new in-the-works habits...

• Neutrogena body oil right out of the shower
• Drying my hair and leaving the house with hair DOWN
• Limiting portion sizes and trying to eat 90% natural or whole foods per day
• 3 strength workouts per week

I may not have to keep this blog up for long, but I think I will. Taking a break a few times a week to analyze my actions, even if for only me, has been helpful. I want to make changes, permanent changes. And that often involves little reminder sessions where I sit down quietly and think to myself. And to blogger.com.

Workout Like a Pigeon

Trying to do things on the go has proven difficult for me. I tried making the "on-the-go" playlist on ipod while on the bus today. I can't figure it out. So music for today's workout will be provided by old playlists and my most frequently played list.

My workout today will include come cardio, abs, and yoga. I've been horrible about stretching, and I'm thinking that will improve my overall disposition. A few sets of sun salutations, pigeon pose, which is my favorite. I bet I'll be sorest from the stretches, but I can't say until tomorrow!

It's supposed to snow again tomorrow, which means that walking around today with wet hair is not a good idea. I'll fit in a workout anyway, but my hair might be a little funky tonight!

New Workout Mix and a Little Success

Amidst all of my studious work at the computer, I have been loading new (old) CDs onto my IPod. My latest tools for a mix are:

Roses -- Outkast
How Come You Don't Call Me -- Alicia Keys
...& On -- Erykah Badu
Apple Tree -- Erykah Badu
Pentitentiary Philosophy -- Erykah Badu
Not If You Were the Last Junkie on Earth -- Dandy Warhols
Minnesoter -- Dandy Warhols
The 13th -- The Cure
60 Minute Man -- Dont Know, from the Pleasantville Soundtrack

I'm still working on adding a few filler songs, but these songs are playing on heavy rotation through all of my walks, healthy meals, and dreams of actually making it to the gym. The good news is I'm down to 154.8, which makes my goal (149 by 5-9-09) not seem so far off.